Disney Vacation (4 Viewers)

[Deranged Hermit]

We were supposed to go in January when fate (and a presumed drunk driver) had other plans. We just stopped to get breakfast because our room wasn't ready yet. Bad idea. We left the IHOP and started to drive to Saratoga Springs. Long story short, we got run off the road and into a palm tree. Never caught the guy who hit us. I was fine, but my wife spent the week at Celebration Hospital. At least my son flew down and I got to spend the week with him. :/

 

[3 hour lunch]

We were supposed to go in January when fate (and a presumed drunk driver) had other plans. We just stopped to get breakfast because our room wasn't ready yet. Bad idea. We left the IHOP and started to drive to Saratoga Springs. Long story short, we got run off the road and into a palm tree. Never caught the guy who hit us. I was fine, but my wife spent the week at Celebration Hospital. At least my son flew down and I got to spend the week with him. :/

Damn that’s terrible. You’d think that time of day would be the most safe.

 

[Goldminer1]

It will be interesting to see if there is an exclusivity agreement with the UAE and the attractions they build at that park. Disney is already saying this will be its most technologically advanced park. If they are allowed to do so, eventually bringing over the attractions they build there (or the tech they use) to the domestic parks would be great.

It sounds like the Summer is going to be light crowd wise at WDW ($60 a day tickets for Florida residents), despite Epic Universe opening down the road. As an Orlando local, the Summer months have been slow for years, even during the post-covid boom. People have discovered that Central Florida in July & August is miserable.

Additionally, it sounds like there are lots of growing pains at Epic Universe with their "soft openings." By all accounts the park is beautiful and a step forward, but the attractions are struggling to stay open all day due to weather/maintenance/tech mess-ups. There are also issues with ride capacity, causing long wait times. Epic is a net positive for the Theme Park industry, but it might not be a bad idea to let them get the kinks worked out operationally before doing a big Universal trip.

Over at the Mouse, I think now is a good time to return to those days when they would over-deliver with customer experiences. Return to the highest standard of customer service, bring "the Magic" back. Every guest should feel special, not like a number on a Quarterly Income Report.

With all of the coming construction coming at Magic Kingdom (Villains Land/Cars of America) & Animal Kingdom (Indiana Jones/Tropical Americas). Disney can "respond" to Epic by doing what it does best - making guests feel special and providing a magical vacation. Then, once the shine is off of Epic Universe, and these big projects at Disney open (3-5 years from now), the customer service they were once (still are?) known for, will be matched by refreshed parks that are still the class of the industry.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

We were supposed to go in January when fate (and a presumed drunk driver) had other plans. We just stopped to get breakfast because our room wasn't ready yet. Bad idea. We left the IHOP and started to drive to Saratoga Springs. Long story short, we got run off the road and into a palm tree. Never caught the guy who hit us. I was fine, but my wife spent the week at Celebration Hospital. At least my son flew down and I got to spend the week with him. :/

Damn that’s terrible. You’d think that time of day would be the most safe.

Yeah, my wife needed surgery on her clavicle and tibia. At least she got the new vehicle she was hounding me about for a year. She pretty much new she was getting whatever she wanted.

 

[SayChowda]

At the end of August we're doing 3 park days at Universal and 2 at Disney. The kids have been wanting to hit up the Nintendo stuff at Universal ever since it was announced.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

The new Lilo and Stitch movie was really good. Took my daughter this morning and we enjoyed it quite a bit. Not completely loyal to the original, but it was different in ways that made sense.
The girl playing Lilo was adorable. Great casting by Disney.

 

[glvsav37]

The new Lilo and Stitch movie was really good. Took my daughter this morning and we enjoyed it quite a bit. Not completely loyal to the original, but it was different in ways that made sense.
The girl playing Lilo was adorable. Great casting by Disney.

Funny, out of all the "classic-enough" Disney movies I've seen, I've never watched the original Lilo & Stitch. It just never interested me as a movie.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

The new Lilo and Stitch movie was really good. Took my daughter this morning and we enjoyed it quite a bit. Not completely loyal to the original, but it was different in ways that made sense.
The girl playing Lilo was adorable. Great casting by Disney.

Funny, out of all the "classic-enough" Disney movies I've seen, I've never watched the original Lilo & Stitch. It just never interested me as a movie.

Ah, so you're the one.....

 

[Desert_Power]

So, we went earlier this year staying at Old Key West with one night at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. My parents are going again in December and I'm thinking of a couple of options via renting DVC points to try one of the places I've always wanted to go (Polynesian Tower or Savanna room at Animal Kingdom Lodge). Has anyone done a savanna room in that time of the year? Not sure the animals will be particularly active so leaning towards trying for Poly.

 

[glvsav37]

So, we went earlier this year staying at Old Key West with one night at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. My parents are going again in December and I'm thinking of a couple of options via renting DVC points to try one of the places I've always wanted to go (Polynesian Tower or Savanna room at Animal Kingdom Lodge). Has anyone done a savanna room in that time of the year? Not sure the animals will be particularly active so leaning towards trying for Poly.

We've dont the Savanah view in summer and the animals were fairly active. I dont think time of year is really an issue.

Although, I was expecting to have my coffee on the balcony and watching a heard of animals cross my path, it want the case. 2 mornings gone with not much more then a bird passing by, I was a little upset. Then we went back to the room mid day for a break and I opened the curtains to find Wild Africa outside my room. I guess the animals tend to sleep in more then my 15 year old on weekends.

some photos

Zebras
Pano
Giraffies

so the answer is hit or miss, they are there, just not active all day everywhere. They tend to roam around in groups.

 

[glvsav37]

So, we went earlier this year staying at Old Key West with one night at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. My parents are going again in December and I'm thinking of a couple of options via renting DVC points to try one of the places I've always wanted to go (Polynesian Tower or Savanna room at Animal Kingdom Lodge). Has anyone done a savanna room in that time of the year? Not sure the animals will be particularly active so leaning towards trying for Poly.

will also add that the resort itself is very cool. I prefer Jambo b/c it is more like a Disney resort vs the DVC prop Kidani. And the food is amazing

One of the coolest things we did when we were there was the night vision goggles. At night they put a cast member out by a field a you cant see any animals. Then they give you military grade night vision goggles and turns out there are a few of them right in front of you. It was pretty amazing.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

So, we went earlier this year staying at Old Key West with one night at the Hyatt Grand Cypress. My parents are going again in December and I'm thinking of a couple of options via renting DVC points to try one of the places I've always wanted to go (Polynesian Tower or Savanna room at Animal Kingdom Lodge). Has anyone done a savanna room in that time of the year? Not sure the animals will be particularly active so leaning towards trying for Poly.

Poly is my favorite resort, but we stayed at Jambo House (at my dad's request, he wanted to 'have coffeewith the giraffes') so I used my points to get two Savanna rooms and we enjoyed it a lot.
You see all kinds of animals as they feed them in the morning and evening. We loved it.

 

[fruity pebbles]

We stayed at Kiddani. It was cool the first few days but the novelty wore off for us and it was an incredibly long walk to get from the room to the shuttle bus station. Was cool to do but wouldn’t do it a second time.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

We stayed at Kiddani. It was cool the first few days but the novelty wore off for us and it was an incredibly long walk to get from the room to the shuttle bus station. Was cool to do but wouldn’t do it a second time.

We stayed at Kidani (my daughter and I) and I agree about that resort. I liked Jambo much better.

 

[3 hour lunch]

Planning to do Mickeys Christmas party at MK in December. Any tips? Been years for us to do any Disney stuff

 

[fruity pebbles]

Know this is a Disney thread but has anyone being to Epic Universe yet? If so what did you think

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Planning to do Mickeys Christmas party at MK in December. Any tips? Been years for us to do any Disney stuff

Depends on what you're looking for. They have meet and greets with 'rare' characters, but those are usually batshit crazy. Seriously, my neice went to the Halloween party and Jack and Sally had a three hour posted wait time. It was actually longer.
When we go we usually just take advantage of the shorter lines and watch the special parade and Fireworks. If the lines aren't too bad we'll get the free cookies and hot chocolate.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Know this is a Disney thread but has anyone being to Epic Universe yet? If so what did you think

My buddy went shortly after it opened and loved it. I'm thinking of going next year.

 

[glvsav37]

Planning to do Mickeys Christmas party at MK in December. Any tips? Been years for us to do any Disney stuff

I get the appeal of the rare characters but I’m not waiting my whole event in line.

You go for the ambiance, the parade, the special goodies and then the short lines. The overall “Christmas in Disney” experience is what it’s all about.

 

[3 hour lunch]

Planning to do Mickeys Christmas party at MK in December. Any tips? Been years for us to do any Disney stuff

I get the appeal of the rare characters but I’m not waiting my whole event in line.

You go for the ambiance, the parade, the special goodies and then the short lines. The overall “Christmas in Disney” experience is what it’s all about.

Yeah this was my thought as well, my kids are 19 and 17; we are really just going to meet my sister/niece in the area. So, besides a quick pic with Mickey maybe, we will be all about the rides and food

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Know this is a Disney thread but has anyone being to Epic Universe yet? If so what did you think

If you believe the bloggers, everyone is going to Epic and no one is going to disney this year.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

We did the Christmas party once and liked it. I have a buddy that does it every year with his family.

Mostly for the treats, shorter waits, and I just love the energy of Disney at night. Don't care about the special characters.